Greenwood Cemetery
Also known as: But-386-9; But-691-9
Why it's listed
Greenwood Cemetery covers 26 acres on the northeast side of Hamilton, Ohio, and is laid out in the rural cemetery tradition of the mid-1800s. Hamilton citizens organized it in 1847-48 because the older burying grounds in town were being crowded by growth. Rolling hills, winding drives, a pond with a statue of a young woman, and mixed plantings of oaks, maples, willows and catalpa create a park-like setting. Trustees consulted landscape designer Adolph Strauch of Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. Notable structures include a Richardsonian Romanesque public receiving vault of 1892, family vaults for the Howell and McGriff families, a caretaker's shed with upturned pagoda-like eaves, and a veterans section with a 1936 memorial. Victorian obelisks, ark-shaped markers, angels and urns fill the grounds. The cemetery was recognized for its social history, architecture and landscape design, with a period of significance of 1848 to 1936.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is argued to embody the mid-19th-century Rural Cemetery Movement through its design, landscape, architecture, grave markers and monuments. It is significant in social history, architecture and landscape architecture. Its Richardsonian Romanesque vaults, pond, plantings and Victorian monuments show the movement's ideals and the influence of landscape designer Adolph Strauch.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000771, listed July 22, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1602 Greenwood Ave., Hamilton |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | July 22, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000771 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1848-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque (Richardsonian Romanesque); Mid-19th Century: Exotic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a cemetery; the caretaker's shed still serves its original purpose. The 1850s underground vault is now privately owned. |
| Acreage | 69.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.40294, -84.54351 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000771.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5604996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.